Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Sleeved 8/27. Lessons Learned For Future Sleevers



Recommended Posts

Hello. I thought I'd share what I hope will help future sleevers.

Don't wear shorts and a t shirt to the hospital. I was cold in the waiting area.

Bring ear plugs and a sleep mask. The Iv machine makes noise that is hindering my sleep

The hospital should have lemon swabs to add moisture to your mouth. Remember to ask for them.

I'll add more as I come cross them

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I totally forgot about that myself, being sleeved 8/22! That damn IV machine makes the most strange noises at the weirest times! It seems so random that you can't even become use to it at all!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I would advise against using earplugs. If you quit breathing or your oxygen drops too low the tone is designed to get you to wake up. That's important so you don't, you know...die. Even more important when you're post-anesthesia and on narcotics, which can depress your system.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I would advise against using earplugs. If you quit breathing or your oxygen drops too low the tone is designed to get you to wake up. That's important so you don't' date=' you know...die. Even more important when you're post-anesthesia and on narcotics, which can depress your system.[/quote']

Thanks. That's great info to know. Forget the ear plugs

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Wow, the IV beeping was the least of my problems. I had someone in like every flipping three hours to check to make sure I was still alive (via blood pressure and temp and stuff). I just wanted to sleeeeeep!

Bring something comforting, especially if you know you might not get a lot of visitors. My parents both work too much to have taken more than my surgery day off, and I will fully admit to being 24 and having a stuffed animal I took in with me.

His name is Mr. Bear and I've had him since I was 4. *flexes*

Make sure you bring proper clothing - sweats are best for going home. I wore jeans and I was actually okay, but that might not be the case for most people. I also can't sleep without music or something so I had to remember ipod chargers and what not.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Wow, the IV beeping was the least of my problems. I had someone in like every flipping three hours to check to make sure I was still alive (via blood pressure and temp and stuff). I just wanted to sleeeeeep!

Bring something comforting, especially if you know you might not get a lot of visitors. My parents both work too much to have taken more than my surgery day off, and I will fully admit to being 24 and having a stuffed animal I took in with me.

His name is Mr. Bear and I've had him since I was 4. *flexes*

Make sure you bring proper clothing - sweats are best for going home. I wore jeans and I was actually okay, but that might not be the case for most people. I also can't sleep without music or something so I had to remember ipod chargers and what not.

Wow, the IV beeping was the least of my problems. I had someone in like every flipping three hours to check to make sure I was still alive (via blood pressure and temp and stuff). I just wanted to sleeeeeep!

Bring something comforting, especially if you know you might not get a lot of visitors. My parents both work too much to have taken more than my surgery day off, and I will fully admit to being 24 and having a stuffed animal I took in with me.

His name is Mr. Bear and I've had him since I was 4. *flexes*

Make sure you bring proper clothing - sweats are best for going home. I wore jeans and I was actually okay, but that might not be the case for most people. I also can't sleep without music or something so I had to remember ipod chargers and what not.

H ow can you have anything from when you were a kid?? My parent threw away everything if god forbid I didn't put it back in the same spot I found it! Where is forum for people who suddenly are upset by this as an adult? Where is my teddy ruxpin!!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Haha! He went to school with me every day (Even had a teddy-bear sided Beauty and the Beast backpack) and was there for my kindergarten graduation too. And my highschool graduation. And when I went to France. And the second time I went to France (and Italy, and London, and Switzerland.) And when I graduated (although I kinda didn't, whoops) from college. There's no way my mother would have even DREAMED about getting rid of him. I'm being buried with that thing!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm planning to bring my Paddington. He's been there through everything else, why not this too? :wub:

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Exactly!!! I also brought the hippo that sat on my grandmother's sewing machine for years with. It's also been everywhere.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Nurses are in and out of your room because you are to get your vitals checked every 4 hours. You are on pain medication and probably will be put on a pain medication by mouth....which means they are also in there to asses your pain. The hospital I work at we are suppose to check on our patients every hour during the day and every two hours at night. This is for your safety :) it gets better. My gas pain was worse than surgery pain. And I was uncomfortable laying on my back all night and day.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My surgeon brought me a stuffed bear the second day. I call him beri the Bariatric bear. He was very helpful to press againt my stomach when I was getting into and out of bed

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My surgeon brought me a stuffed bear the second day. I call him beri the Bariatric bear. He was very helpful to press againt my stomach when I was getting into and out of bed

My NUT brought me a jelly bean shaped pillow I call my belly bean. I still make sure I have it when I sleep. The one time I got caught without it and sneezed I really pulled a muscle that is STILL healing. An absolute MUST!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

H ow can you have anything from when you were a kid?? My parent threw away everything if god forbid I didn't put it back in the same spot I found it! Where is forum for people who suddenly are upset by this as an adult? Where is my teddy ruxpin!!

My sister is now 40 and she has had her stuffed animal since she was 3. It's pretty worn down, but she still has it. If any one of us in my family even THOUGHT of throwing it away, we'd receive the wrath of hell.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • LeighaTR

      I am new here today... and only two weeks out from my sleeve surgery on the 23rd. I am amazed I have kept my calories down to 467 today so far... that leaves me almost 750 left for dinner and maybe a snack. This is going to be tough for two weeks... but I have to believe I can do it!
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Doughgurl

      Hey everyone. I'm new here so I thought I should introduce myself. I am 53y/o and am scheduled for Gastric Bypass on June 25th, 2025. I'm located in San Antonio, Texas. I will be having my surgery in Tiajuana Mexico. I've wanted this for years, but I always had insurance where bariatric procedures were excluded. Finally I am able to afford to pay out of pocket.  I can't wait to get started, and I hope I'm prepared for the initial period of "hell". I know what I have signed up for, but I'm sure the good to come will out way the temporary period of discomfort and feelings of regret. I'd love to find people to talk to who have been through the same procedure or experience before. So I look forward to meeting you all. Hope you have a great week!
      · 2 replies
      1. Selina333

        I'm so happy for you! You are about to change your life. I was so glad to get the sleeve done in Dec. I didn't have feelings of regret overall. And I'm down almost 60 lbs. I do feel a little sad at restaurants. I can barely eat half a kid's meal. I get adults meals often because kid ones don't have the same offerings at times. Then I feel obligated to eat on that until it's gone and that can be days. So the restaurant thing isn't great for me. All the rest is fine by me! I love feeling full with very little. I do wish I could drink when eating. And will sip at the end. Just a strong habit to stop. But I'm working on it! You will do fine! Just keep focused on your desire to be different. Not better or worse. But different. I am happy both ways but my low back doesn't like me that heavy. So I listened (also my feet!). LOL! Update us on your journey! I'm not far from you. I'm in Houston. Good luck and I hope it all goes smoothly! Would love to see pics of the town you go to for this. I've never been there. Neat you will be traveling for this! Enjoy the journey. Take it one day at a time. Sometimes a few hours at a time. Follow all recommendations as best you can. 💗

      2. Doughgurl

        Thank you so much for your well wishes. I am hoping that everything goes easy for me as well. We don't eat out much as it is, so it wont be too bad in that department. Thankfully. Also, I hear you regarding your back and feet!! I'd like to add knees to the list. Killing me as we speak! I'm only 5' so the weight has to go. Too short to carry all this weight. Menopause really did a doosey on me. (😶lol) My daughter also lives in Houston. with her Husband and my 5 grand-littles. I grew up in Beaumont, so I know Houston well, I will be sure to keep in touch and update you on my journey. I may need some advice in the future, or just motivation. Thank You so much for reaching out, I was hoping to connect with someone in the community. I really appreciate it. 💜

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×